Rotary internal combustion motor



C. J. Z. FANBERG ROTARY INTERNAL coMBUs'rIoN MOTOR Sept. 17 1940 Filed seml 2' 1937 w y M M 1i Patented Sept. 17, 1940 I UNITED 'STAT ROTARY mTERNAL ColuBUSTrION MOTOR I Clemons J. Z. Fanberg, Kerkhoven, Minn.

` Application September 2, 1937. Serial No. 162,157

(ci. 12s-1s) 7 Claims.

My invention relates to internal combustion motors and particularly to such motors of a rotary type.

The types -of internal combustion motors in vcommon use .are of the type including cylinders, creciprocating pistons, connecting rods and a crankshaft. As is wellknowm the use' of reciprocating parts is conducive `to vibration,

power loss and rapid deterioration. Also, suchl engines include power absorbing valve gear.

wherein valves .are opened against the' force of springsbypow'er delivered thereto through a tion motor, but, in mostcases, success has not sign, undue c or'nplication, or other factors.

An object ofmy invention is to provide a practical iormofy rotarvfinternal. combustion motor wherein Vvalve operating mechanism is unnecessary.

Another object is to provide such a motor wherein the intake and compression events are effected in one portion thereof and the power and exhaust events are eifected in another section.

having intercommunicating primary and main combustion chambers and wherein combustion is initiated in the ,primary combustion chambers.

Yet another -object is to provide suchv a motor wherein each combustion chamber'has a power event effected therein once in every revolu-l having incorporated in its structure simple and effective'means forscavenging burned gases and cooling the motor..n i

A still furtherobject is to provide such amotor of eiiicient, smooth running, simple, rugged, reliable and inexpensive construction.

the invention will more fully appear from the following description made in connection rwith the' characters refer tol-.,the same orsimilar parts throughout the views, andinwhich;- n 1 Fig. 1.is a side viewofangembodiment invention;

camshaft. attemp'tsh'ave. been made tov -producefa satisfactory rotary internal combus (been attained {due to impractical features of detion of the motor. i

A further object is to provide such a motor` These and other objects and. advantages of accompanying drawing,` wherein :likereference Fig. 4 -is a longitudinal sectional vview of the; engine; f Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line 5-5 of Fig. 4 as indicated by the arrows; Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 5 exceptffor 5 being to reduced scale and appearing as with the rotatable parts removed;

stm another object is to provide such a motor Fig. '7 is a cross-sectional View taken along' the line l--l of Fig. 4 as indicated by the arrows; and vf .1,10 Fig. 8 isl a view similar to Fig. 7 except for ber' ing toreduced scale and appearing asgwit'h the' rotatable parts removed. i. j

Referring to the drawing, my rotaryinternal combustion motor consists o f a compressorsec- 15 tion C in. which intake and compression events. are effected Vand a power producing section R", wherein the `explosion and exhaust eventsjj'a're effected. A shaft 9 iscommonlto `the s ectionsl oandP. 20

The power producing section P includes a cas?, ing I0 of figure 8 shape having' therewithina `pair of inter-lapping generally cylindrical 'cavi-. ties or chambers Illa and vIlibv of whichthelowen chamber I 0a maybe the largerof the twofcham-,j 25 bers. The shaft' '9 extendsfthrough the lov'verv chamber Illa in concentric relationtherewith,V A cylindrical rotor II mounted onthe shaft@ .ar'cLv disposed within the lowerchamberlllqis of s ub-f" stanriauy 'less diameter. thanv the chambnl'nq 30".'

rlin a .counter-clockwise directiom of my Fig. 2 is an end 'viewtaken-fromea point .tothe'xl left (as viewed in Fig. l1) ofmy. mctoraand'showing the power-producing portion thereon..v 1li ff Fig. 3A is" anend'view takenfroma point tolth'e rightfasviewed in Fig..1') of my motor-andgshow ber -lza itherewahin. 'this e a AThe rotor I3 is prcvidedwithrecesseaor pockets' l 'drical elements carried by the rotor.. |;l so.that z,

and extends axially from'one'side 'Wallft'ov the other of the casing* I Il.` vA series,ofgcylindricalelements lz is fcrmea en the ii'erii'nhergy.pifA the rotor II in spaced circunitere'nt'ialarrangement?fv with` the axes of the respective,-cylidricalfleleg .35 ments I2 disposed parallel toithelaxis .';f-.t',h e rotor-` II. Another rotor'l?.` isfconcentrically disposedg; within the upper chamber `I 0b` and is carried. on a, shaft i4 journalled in thewalls of vthe{z :asirfig I0).

I3a` for relatively snuglyreceivingutheycylin-y the rotors II and I3 are ir itermeshedgfor rotationI tates in a. clockwise direction and therotor Net5 The recesses or pocketsf-.fa-jandf v ,v elements I2.received therein-denne combustion chambers. Means is vvprovided'ferr-delivering .iol

preoompressed chargek of `Vexplosivemixture into the combustion chambersffthus" provl'dedav f-Each of the cyindrical elements I2f carried-:bythe rot' II Ais ofk'hollow. constructie Y .2g d Y 2,215,096

" described, constituting a primary combustion bustion chamber I2a of one oithe cylindrical chamber. Each of the lchambers I2a has a relaelements I2 through the corresponding groove tively small port I2b .for communication with a Y I5 when that cylindrical element I2 has reached corresponding main combustion chamber i3d. such a position that the groove I5 associated 5 constituted by one of the pockets or recesses I3a. therewith `-comes into ,registration with the inlet 5 An axially extending groove I5 is formed parport I6.I At such time the port I2b of the cylintiallyin the cylindrical element I2 and partially drical element I2 has entered one of the pockets within the main portion of the rotor II. `'I'he o'r recesses I3a of the rotor I3. Further clocki grooves I5 open into their respective primary wise rotation of the shaft 9 will result in the cycombustion .chambers I2a and also open at the lindrical element being received deeper into the lil endsof the rotor II.l The casin'g I0 is provided recess I3a with whichlt is associated. When the with inlet ports I6 adapted for registration with primary combustion chamber I2a of the cylinthe ends of the respective grooves I5 so as to drical element I2 reaches -a positionV registering communicatea with the primary combustion with the spark plugs I1, the spark plugs are chambers I2a.U The inlet ports I6 are in the end operated to ignite the compressed charge conm o lwalls of the casing I0 at such a distance from the tained Within tht., Primary explosion chamber axis of the shaft 9 es to be covered by the moin I2a. The valve 28a may be maintained open durportion of the rotor |l I ing the .process of starting my motor so as to For purposes of. properly timing the rgistraenable areduced compression pressure in the zo ticn'of'a particular groove I5 with the inlet port Pockets v|30 and thus render the mOtOr easily m I3, the portie le disposed somewhat to the leftrotatable for the purpose of starting the same. of a plane common to the axes of the shafts 9 and After the motor has been Started. the valve 28a I4, as shown in Figs. 5, and 6. For ignition of may be closed whereupon the-'degree 0i (20111D1155 ohm-ges of explosive mixture, e, spel-k plugn is sion in the pockets I3a will become sumcient to situated in each end wolloi the casing in in suoli cause ignition of the charge tlrerei at or near u f position' as to .register with the primary comdead center by compression, and whereaiter opbustion chamber no of a cylindrical element l2 eration of the spark-plugs may be dispensed with at euch time as sold cylindrical clement has ro.. or, if desired, may-be continued. A small amount ad tilted/'slightly past` said common plane. Exhaust 0f burning gas will remain pockoted in the Sprkpage t la and |9 extend radially outwardly plugs I1 to assisi;- in igniting the charge in the through the peripheral walls of the lower and next Chamber lila reaching the spark-plugs l1.' upper portions of the casing lo in positions gen- Th valve 28a niay, of course, be left slightly open. emily horizontally aligned with the ox'es of the rat er than tightly closed, and maybe adjustively respective shafts g ond t positioned to alustthe .degree of compression so' l Fgr scaven-lng gf bln-ned gases and cooling o BS t0 selectively determine the timing 0f the fthe motor airinlet and outlet ports are provided. l .OmPleSSiOn ignition and secure the best, operai All. inlet poi-tc 2 ondzi are nrovided in the lower tion of the motor under varibus conditions oi load halves of the end wens of the lower portion ofthe and Speed- As the compressed charge burns. it '-gddsin'g Ib just outwardly of the main portion Will expand outwardly through the port I2b to mitici-the rotor II. These air inletports are of relaignite the compressed chl'ge Which has been 40 .a tively noi-row elongated arcuate shone, An oir delivered to the interior of the recess I2a through ontlet port n is provided in the 'loftoiiond (os the port., I2b. When the combustion or explosion viewed immo 5). portion` oi o loweinous of the of the compressed charge of explosive mixture casing I0 at4 substantially the level ofthe axis occurs. the pressure produced thereby will tend .i5-vof thelshaftl-.f Ad groove nlsoiomedln the inf -to expel the cylindrical element I2 from the re- 45 i termnmpmm of thedower han of the lower A cess I3a`y with whichV it is associated, and' hence j portionottlie cosine im-oxtendlng' from d point will tend to rotate the rotor II in a clockwise somewliot below the exi-must port lo to the aIii. n direction. Also the expanding chage within the outlet 22. In a. similar'manner the upper portion Primary combustion chamber I2a, in issuing of tho casing lo is provided with an. inlets 24 'fhIOllgh the port 12b will be directed against a 50 and 25, an. air outlet 26, and an air conducting Portion 0f the upper 10t0r I3 deihg the mai groove 21 combustion chamber I3a, and hence will tend Au oir relief port 2g is nfovidcd in the upper to drive the upper rotor I3 in a counter-clockleft hand,part of the lower portion of the casing wise direction. `Further rotation oi the shaft 9 in. A valve 28a is provided for che pori; 2s in alockwise direction will of wursabeaccom- 5a whereby exit of air therethrough may be blocked Famed by movement 0f the cylindrical element or adjusiively limited as desired. with the volvo'v I2 t0 the right and downwardly ahead or the 28a closedv or ,nearly closed and the rotor II expanding gases- AS the Cylindrical element. l2 rotating clockwise, at least part of the air conpasses the exhaust( PONS i3, tl'e burned gases will tained in the space between` two cylindrical bodies Proceed 17.0 exhaust through the exhaust port I8. 6l]

' I2 disposed above the outlet port 22 will be com- Also burned gases from the main combustion pressed into one of the pockets I3a of the upper chamber i3 Will exhaust into the plier exhaust rotor I4., the quantity 'oi' air compressed and Port I9 when the leeSS 3a isipassing the upper accordingly the compression pressure obtained exhaust Port |9- The cylindrical elements diS- being dependent upon the setting of the valve posed at .the lower portion of the rotor Il anden 28a. moving in a clockwise direction will function For operation of the motor a suitable source of in the manner 0f the impeller 0f a centrifugal f l compressed explosive mixture is connected to the blower and will suck in air through their inlet l 't inlet ports I6. 'Ihis source is the compressor sec- PUTIS 20 and 2| and deliver this air thrOllgh the' L tion C which will be described later. The sparkgroove 23 to the port 22 and through the port 7 plugs l1 are, of oom-so, connected to a suitable 22 to the surrounding atmosphere. This movei ignition system which may be of conventional ment of air will scavenge the spaces between sucform. In operation of the motor, a precomcessive ones of the cylindrical elements I2 of any pressed charge of explosive mixture will be deremaining traces of burned gas and also will act livered from the ports I6 into a primary com- ,to cool the cylindrical elements I2, the rotor Ii, 7n

and the [casing lil.A The portions ofthe upperm rotor- I3 defining the recesses lawill ina'simiian manner cooperate'fwith the air'inlet'portsl V24 and l25, the grooves 21,,andthe'air outlet l23 tof scavengeand coolthe'upper rotor and `the upper portion of 'the casing`v III.

The compressorl section 'in motor is for the',A

purpose of delivering 'precompre'ssed explosive mixture tothe inletports I3" of the power pro ducingsection `P of the' motor.` 'Ihe compressor 'section'includes a casing 23 'of gureii shape the rotor 30 is of substantially lessV diameter than the chamber 23a and carries thereupon cylindrical elements 3| Vwhich are disposed in spaced relation to eachother ina series en-`` circling the vmain portion of the rotor 30. The respective axes of 'the cylindrical elements 3L are parallel to the'common axis of the shaft '.3'

and rotor 30. A'rotoi 32 is disposed yinthe upper chamber 29h and h/as in its peripheral yno rf tion a circumferentially extending series`of.,re cesses' or pockets 33 :for receiving the cylindrical elements 3| of the lower rotor 30 so that 'the rotors 30 and 32 are `intermeshed for rotation in unison. Therotor 132 is mounted on a, horizontal shaft 32a' which yis journalled in suitable apertures lin the vendwalls of the casing 29. The recesses 433 and cylindrical elements 3| received therein define compression'chambers. At the l inner limits of the respective recesses 33, grooves 34 arefformed tofunction as an inlet and outlet duct for the compression chambers describedv above. Ports are provided in-the end walls of the casing 2310i' thepurpose of admission and exhausting of gases compressed in the above described' compression chambers. The inlet ports extend 'from a `point just to the right of a plane common tothe axes of the rotors 30 and 32 'and positioned for registration therewith of the grooves 34 downwardly and to the right to a point just-beyond 'the periphery of the upper rotor 32.v .An outletport.36 is disposed `tust to the left of the above'descrlbed common plane in ,position forregistration therewith of the grooves l34.

Each of the inlet ports' 35 is connected through a hollow element 31 and a conduit 38 to any suitable source of explosive mixture such as a conventional *urbureton The'outlet ports 35 are connected through hollow elements 39 and tubes to -hollow elements 4| .in communication-with the inlet ports I6 of the power producing unit P. n In operation of the compressor unit C,.the shaft 9' and the lower rotor 30 rotate in a clockwise direction andthe upper rotor 32 rotates in 'a counter-clockwise direction. As a cylin-F drical element 3| is withdrawn from the corresponding one of the recesses 33due vto such rotation, the recess A33 comes into registration with the inlet'port 35 and hence sucks in Ia charge of explosive mixture. upper` rotor 32 `is 'withdrawn from a space between adjoining cylindrical elements 3|, a charge of explosive mixture is sucked into such space. The charges thus sucked into the recess 33 and the space between the adjoining cylindrical elements 3| is'carried through almost a complete revolution of the compressor rotors, where- Also since a portion of the upon` the particular n cylindrical element 3 rel ferred to, again enters the same 'recess 33' jas before, and compresses" vthereinto the charges of explosive mixture contained in the space be.

tween adjoining cylindrical elements 3|"andin` the recess 33. As the cylindrical element 3| ap-l space and the `associated gro ove `34 comes Ainto registration with the outlet ports 36 through which the highly compressed charge' is delivered; through the hollow elements 33, the tubes 40 f ano the hollow elements 4| into the' inlet ports Each of the cynndricalbodies 'lz and 3|, is

provided with grooves I2c and 3io on the leading and trailing sides thereof, as shown in Figs. 5 and 7, to prevent entrapment of explosive mix'- ture between the outer ends of the vanes 3 and 32 and the respective rotor bodies and 30 and the incidental possibility ofcompression ignition of mixture so entrapped.`

My compression section C is also adapted for n ,use as a fluidpressure operated motorand may be made to sooperate byv connecting' asource of fluid under pressure t'o the port 36 thereof whereupon the lshaft 3 maybe vrotated in -a counterclockwise vdirection (as viewed 'in Fig. ,7) 'responsive toiiuid pressure.

It is tojbe 'noted that the lower rotorel and 30. of 'the power producing section" P and the compressor section C areLcarried by the common shaft`9 and will, acc n gly rotate in unison. The upper rotorsyofyft powerlrproducing and compressor sectionsare', k'of course, intermeshed with the lower rotors" and hfence all four rotors\` will rotate in unison.L l l It is to noted. that 'my motor described above requires no "timing gears, camshaft or any other valveo'per'ating mechanism, and that there are no reciprocating parts of any type.

It is apparer'it-that I have invented a novel, simple, ruggedr and inexpensive form of rotary 4engine capable of'.sm ooth and eicient opera-'f' tion and including means for eifectivelyscavenging and cooling the internal spaces thereof.`

It will, of course,' b e understood that various changes may be made in the form, details, ar-4 rangement and proportions of the various partsy without departing from the scope of my invention.'

What is claimed is: n 1. A rotary internal combustion motor comprising, a casing having a pair of interlapping cylindrical cavities therewithin,l two rotors rotatably mounted in the respective cavities each in lconcentric relation to its respectivecavity and each having a main portion of substantially less diameter than the cavity within which it is con, tained, the annular space between each of said main portions and the limits of the cavitycon-l taining the same constituting "a chamber, an annular series of spaced, hollow. cylindrical 'elements formed on one of said main portions with axes parallely tothe axis of said main` portion and diametersl extending radiallyl outwardly of said main portion to the outerI limit of the cora.

responding chamber, vanes extending radially outwardly of the main portion of the second rotor to the outer limits of the corresponding chamber so as to define recesses therebetween for respectively -closely receiving successive ones of said cylindrical elements as said rotors are rotated in unison in opposite directions whereby a pocket and a cylindrical element received therein dene an explosion chamber,4 each of said hollow elements having a port therein positioned for opening into a corresponding one of such explosion :chambers as the same is formed, means for delivering explosive mixture vto said hollow elements, ignition means associated with said explosion chambers, and means for exhausting burned charges of explosive mixture.

2. The structure defined in claim l and ,Said casing being provided, in portions thereof adjoining portions of said ilrst rotor relatively re# mote from said recessed rotor, having air ports at respectively diierent distances from the rota tional axis of said iirst rotor whereby said cylindrical elements may function as impeller vanes to cause ini-lux of air through an inwardly disposed one of said air ports and exit of air through an outwardly disposed one of said air ports to eiect scavenging of burned gases from the cavity containing said rst rotor.

3. 'Ihe structure deiined in claim l, portions of said second rotor defining said recesses constituting vanes, and said casing being provided, in portions thereof adjoining portions of said second rotor relatively remote from said iirst rotor, having air ports at respectively differentl distances from the rotational axis of said second rotor whereby said vanes may function as impeller vanes to cause inux of air through 'an inwardly disposed one of said air ports and exit of air'through an outwardly disposed one of said air ports to effect scavenging of b urned gases -from the cavity containing said second rotor.

4. A rotary internal combustion motor comprising, la casing having a pair of interlapping cylindrical cavities therewithin, two rotors rotatably mounted .in the respective cavities in conwith axes parallel to the axis thereof and diamment constituting a primary explosion chamber,

eters extending radially from said periphery. to the outer limit of the corresponding cavity, the second of said rotors having recesses therein for receiving said cylindrical elements in substantially sealed relation thereto whereby said rotors are intermeshed to rotate in unison in respectively opposite directions, each of said recesses, f

when one of said cylindrical elements is contained therein, defining in conjunction with said cylindrical element a main explosion chamber and the interior* space of said cylindrical elerotor in each o! said chambers, a common shaft carrying one rotor in one casing and the correr spending rotor -in the second casing, a circumferentially extending series ol'spacedr cylindrical elements formed on the periphery oteacha of the rotors on `said shaft with axes.para1lel t0 said shaft, the second rotor in each of said cas-,

ingschaving a series of recesses in 'its peripheral portion for successively receiving successive ones.

of the cylindrical elements of the rst rotor associated therewith'whereby all of said rotors are rotatively connected together for rotation in unison, each of the recesses gf the second rotor in theiflrst casing and'a cylindrical element received therein constituting a compression chamber and each .of the recesses of the second rotor in the second casing and a cylindrical element' received therein constituting a combustion chamber, means for admitting uncompressed explosive mixture to the compression chambers in said iirst casing, neans for conducting compressed explosive mixture from said compression chambers to the combustion chambers in said second casing.

means for igniting explosive mixture in said combustion chambers, and means for exhausting burned explosive mixture from said combustion chambers. f n ,0

6. A rotary internal combustion motor comprising, a casing having a pair of interlapplng cylindrical cavities therewithin, two rotors rotatably'mounted in the respective cavities in concentric relation thereto and'each having a main portion of substantially less diameter than the cavity within which it ls contained. the annular space between each of said main portions and the limits of the cavity containing the same 4.constituting a chamber, an annular se'ris of spaced, hollow,'cylindrioal elements formed onY c one of said vmain portions with axes parallel to.

the axis of said main portion and diameters extending radially outwardly of said main portion to the outer limit of the corresponding chamber, vanes extending radially outwardly of the'main portion of the second rotor to the outer` limit of the corresponding ,Qhamber S0 asv tovdeflne recesses therebetween for respectively closely receiving successive ones of said cylindrical elements as said rotors are rotated inV unison in opposite directions whereby a pocket and a cylindrical element received therein deilne a compression and explosion chamber, said vrst chamber having an inlet port therein for admitting a gas thereinto to occupy spaces between .successive ones of said cylindrical elements as the same move toward said recesses, said casing having a port therein just ahead of the point where said cylindrical elements are received in said recesses adapted for releasing a portion of said gas to limit the amounts thereof compressed into said recesses by said cylindrical elements, ignition means for igniting compressed charges in said recesses, and means for .exhausting burned charges.

7. The structure defined in claim 6 and a regulating valve associated with said gas release port for adjustive regulation of the ilow of gas there'- through.

CLEMONS J. Z. FANBERG. 

